When you need time off work due to a loved one passing away you should be granted bereavement leave (also known as compassionate leave). Bereavement leave can be paid or unpaid and this is at the employer’s discretion.
There is no set number of days’ bereavement leave that an employee is entitled to in the UK — it is up to the employer and will be detailed in the employee’s contract. Usually, bereavement leave will be about three to five days.
Family bereavement is the most common reason for an employee to be granted bereavement leave. ‘Immediate family’ usually refers to:
Some employers will also recognise grandparents and grandchildren as close family as well as the parents of your spouse.
However, it is an area which is far from defined, due to the varying nature of human relationships. Some employers will allow you to take bereavement leave if you are grieving the loss of a close friend or extended family.
Try to ask for time off as soon as you can as this will allow you the space to grieve, plan funeral arrangements or the interment of ashes. It also allows your employer to manage the workflow with minimal disruption.
If your loved one has been ill for some time, you may have confided in your employer and had time off to care for a family member, so your employer may have already considered bereavement leave as a request that might follow. If the loss of a loved one is sudden, then a brief conversation with your employer to let them know before you submit the bereavement leave request would be expected.
Your employees’ handbook will usually detail the company bereavement leave policy — how long the leave lasts and whether or not it is paid. Sometimes whether or not you work full-time or part-time might be a factor.
If you do not have a company handbook, request a meeting with your manager or HR personnel to ask what the policies are and ask for a signed copy of them so that you have something to refer to and can avoid any confusion.
When requesting time off and deciding how many days’ leave to ask for, make sure that you account for your mental health as well as financial and organisational factors. You may want to add holiday allowance on to your bereavement leave if you need more time.
After you have had a meeting with your HR department or line manager, put your request for bereavement leave in writing (usually an email is acceptable).
It is likely that you will be feeling emotionally vulnerable so ask your HR department or your line manager to notify your colleagues so that you don’t have to answer the same questions numerous times as this could be overwhelming.
What a great company to deal with, very professional and helpful, they have just refurbished my parents headstone for me, very pleased with the result and I would recommend this Company to anyone looking for a friendly and helpful service.
This was a renovation at Woodwells Cemetery, Hemel Hempstead, Herts.
Graham L Google Review: 06/05/2021
Highly recommend Memorials Of Distinction I lost my husband 8 months ago and enquired about a stone and vase for him and all the staff showed compassion, understanding my requirements and also answered any questions and queries that I asked. Very professional and excellent service from my enquiry even to now with my husbands stone being laid. Very reasonable priced and always kept in touch with me with an update on the progress of the order! Fantastic company and would always recommend to family and friends, and I would like to say thank you for completing the stone and I’m so happy with the final product and looks high quality finish and wording! Thank you to each and everyone who has helped me and knowing that any questions you’re there to help!
Michelle D. Google Review: 01/02/2023
We are beyond pleased with the memorial. It looks even better in situ, than we could have ever imagined from the pictures and drafts. We would highly recommend Memorials of Distinction.
The sales team provided an amazing online service from initial enquiry, through to aftercare. The communication was amazing, keeping us informed step by step of the process and double checking every detail was just as we wished. Any queries were responded to quickly and we feel confident that any further aftercare requests will also be responded to swiftly.
The memorial itself was installed within the specified timescales and carried out with obvious care and dignity. The area was left spotlessly clean and tidy with meticulous detail to edge the area and present the stone in a clean and tailored fashion. It was abundantly clear there was real pride in the work undertaken. They even uncovered some items that had been lost within the grass and respectfully placed them onto the grave afterwards.
We are overwhelmed with how amazing the memorial looks in person and the service we received. It took us many years to undertake this part, for many reasons. We are so pleased to finally have the memorial in place and we shall be forever grateful for making this difficult part of losing a loved one a very positive one.
Emma H. Google Review: 08/09/2023
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